Posted on 01/17/2004 10:59:17 PM PST by KQQL
PEMBROKE, N.H. - Wesley Clark (news - web sites) suggested Saturday that questions remain about President Bush (news - web sites)'s Vietnam-era service in the Texas Air National Guard, but the retired general stopped short of endorsing a comment by actor-director Michael Moore that Bush was "a deserter."
Moore, a Clark supporter, introduced the Democratic presidential nominee at a campaign rally here by saying he looked forward to debates between Clark, if he wins the Democratic nomination, and Bush.
"I want to see that debate: the general versus the deserter," Moore said to enthusiastic applause at a packed rally in a high-school gymnasium, reiterating a line he uses frequently.
Clark, asked later by reporters if he agreed with Moore's characterization of Bush as a "deserter," said: "I've heard those charges. I don't know whether they're established or not. He was never prosecuted for it. The question in this election is can we bring a higher standard of leadership to America."
The exchange recalled a controversy that was an element of the 2000 presidential campaign.
Bush served as a pilot in the Texas Air National Guard from May 1968 to October 1973, mostly flying F-102 fighter interceptors. He did not go to Vietnam.
Bush spent most of his time in the Guard based near Houston, but in May 1972 he received a three-month assignment in Alabama with the 187th Tactical Recon Unit in Montgomery while he worked on a political campaign in the state.
Retired Gen. William Turnipseed, a commander at the Alabama base, said during the 2000 presidential campaign that he never saw Bush appear for duty for that unit's drills. Bush maintains he was there, but records have never been produced to document that Bush was there.
At a news conference after the rally, Clark insisted, "I'm not going to get into the issues of what George W. Bush did or didn't do in the past."
But he also declined to criticize Moore's "deserter" remarks.
"I'm delighted with Michael Moore, I really appreciate his support, he's a fantastic leader. I thank him tremendously for being here."
Clark was the only Democratic presidential candidate campaigning in New Hampshire on Saturday. Most of his rivals were in Iowa. Clark, a late entry, decided to skip Iowa.
Clark, who has presented himself as a military man who opposed the war in Iraq (news - web sites), was to be endorsed on Sunday by 1972 Democratic presidential nominee George McGovern.
McGovern, a staunch opponent of the Vietnam war, was to campaign on Sunday with Clark in New Hampshire, Clark aides said.
In New Hampshire, his ratings in polls were increasing, putting him within striking distance of former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean (news - web sites), who remained the front-runner here.
Earlier, in Laconia, in the lake region of central New Hampshire, Clark said that one reason New Hampshire property taxes are high is the state has no income or general sales tax.
"Some of the responsibility for your high property taxes is a function of your state government and leadership in the state," Clark said in response to a question at a campaign stop.
High property taxes are a perennial political issue in New Hampshire, which holds the first presidential primary Jan. 27. Iowa's contest on Monday involves caucuses, rather than a primary.
In a brief interview after his appearance in Laconia, Clark said he did not intend his remarks as criticism of New Hampshire's tax system, which he said is the responsibility of the state's lawmakers and voters.
"I'm not passing judgment on it one way or another," he said.
Clark was responding to a teacher who complained that underfunding of the federal No Child Left Behind Act was driving up local property taxes. Clark said he would fully fund the act and reform it, reducing the financial burden on communities.
"To be honest with you, in New Hampshire you don't have a sales tax for most of your purchases, and you don't have an income tax as most states do," he said to a large round of applause.
Only New Hampshire and Alaska have neither general sales nor income taxes, and Alaska has substantial oil revenues.
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That's wonderful, until you remember that Wesley Clark disobeyed orders to go swap party hats with a war criminal.
Yeah Wes, you're a great judge of character. You're a character, Michael Moore is a character. No wonder you bosses always talk about your character.
That's wonderful, until you remember that Wesley Clark disobeyed orders to go swap party hats with a war criminal.
Yeah Wes, you're a great judge of character. You're a character, Michael Moore is a character. No wonder you bosses always talk about your character.
BTW Wesley, I know they made you give the hat you got back to it's war criminal owner. Did you ever get your US Army cover back or is it out there still in a war criminal's collection?
One can almost paint Soros as a James Bond-esque super-villian. International wealth, can manipulate whole countries and economies, and has a fiendish plot to take over some aspect of the world.
Now, all we need is 007...
Even the left wing radio hosts don't buy it when you explain it and give them examples of ORS being ORS and not punishment and when you point out that even the wacko left websites have an HONORABLE discharge scanned. Explain how to compute length of service from service dates and it's clear the wacko left is wacko.
I even had a left wing radio host cancel an interview that he had teased bigtime for a few days after I got the information to the station of "How To Read A Disharge Form". However, just to point out the obvious to the left wing wackos that lurk, that paper says "HONORABLE".
And if you compute the service based on dates in Blocks 21 through 32, it checksout.
"I'm delighted with Michael Moore, I really appreciate his support, he's a fantastic leader. I thank him tremendously for being here." General Wesley Clark at his political campaign rally in a Pembroke NH high-school gymnasium, Sat, Jan 17, 2004.
Now, now, think of how many Korean delis you'd be putting out of business if Mister Moore were unable to keep his normal schedule for even a day. It wouldn't be fair to put thousands out of work for Moore having his head up his more intelligent opening.
Bill Clinton is an unmitigated, dissembling liar
Bluntly put, Bill Clinton is an unmitigated, dissembling liar. What Clinton says is meant to deceive not to inform. During an interview on September 23rd with PBS's Jim Lehrer Clinton said, "There is not a single solitary shred of evidence of anything dishonest that I have done in my public life." Most of us hearing this proclamation would understand it to be a blanket denial of any wrongdoing. Clinton clearly intended to communicate this understanding. However, reread Clinton's statement. "There is not a single solitary shred of evidence...." Clinton does not deny dishonestly, rather he denies that there is any evidence of his dishonesty. Quite a different proposition. Continuing with a further qualification Clinton said, "...that I have done in my public life." The injection of "public life" presumes a distinction with Clinton's private life. Given the mountainous evidence of Clinton's dishonestly, we can only conclude that Clinton believes using drugs, funding his Arkansas gubernatorial campaigns, funding his presidential campaign, managing the White House travel office and FBI files and formulating national policy are all part of his private life.
Not really the correct answer...
or the ignorance of those who buy his books and see his movies?
A winner every time.
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